FRANKFORT, Ky. — As Election Day approaches, Kentuckians may be receiving calls from candidates, political organizations and now scammers, according to Attorney General Andy Beshear.
Beshear issued a scam alert Wednesday to help Kentuckians avoid providing their personal information over the phone to a scammer who claims he or she can help Kentuckians register to vote or vote by absentee ballot.
Beshear said the National Association of State Election Directors issued a warning after voters in Mississippi said scammers were calling pretending to be employees of TurboVote, a legitimate voter registration service, requesting Social Security and driver’s license numbers.
Mississippi officials confirmed that the calls are not affiliated with the organization, Beshear said.
“Kentuckians cannot register to vote over the phone,” Beshear said. “If someone calls you and asks for your personal information to supposedly help you register to vote or obtain an absentee ballot – hang up – it is likely a scam.”
The deadline to register to vote in Kentucky for the Nov. 6, 2018, election was Oct. 9.
For future election cycles, Kentuckians should visit the Kentucky State Board of Elections website for systematic instructions and registration options, including submitting a form online, through the mail or in person at a county clerk’s office.
If eligible, Kentuckians may cast an absentee ballot by mail or in the County Clerk’s office before Election Day. According to the state’s website absentee ballots can only be obtained by contacting the County Clerk’s office.
Beshear said Kentuckians should stay on alert for the scam calls through Election Day.
Beshear said if Kentuckians are receiving these scam calls, they should report them to his office via an online form.
Kentuckians can also report election irregularities or possible election law violations to Beshear’s office at 800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683). The hotline is open during regular business hours and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern time) Election Day.
Beshear’s Special Prosecutions Unit coordinates election monitoring with the State Board of Elections, Secretary of State’s Office, Kentucky State Police, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. This monitoring looks at not only primary and general elections, but also special elections held throughout the Commonwealth. Several employees within the office participated in the Election Integrity Task Force with those agencies to enhance the coordinated efforts of all agencies to combat election fraud.
Since taking office Beshear has been working to protect Kentucky families from scams by issuing an alert when new and trending scams are reported in the Commonwealth.
Beshear recommends all Kentuckians stay ahead of scammers by signing up for his office’s Scam Alerts. To enroll text the words KYOAG Scam to GOV-311-468-311 or sign up online at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert.